Bottle crate



H. V. BOWMAN BOTTLE CRATE May 28, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1934 fnl/enor flEMeY M BowMA/v w MM Arron/vs);

May 28, 1935. H. v. BOWMAN BOTTLE CRATE Filed May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r w mm W 3 K W 1 M H 3 JTTQENEYJ Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRATE Henry V. Bowman, Minneapolis, ltfinn.,'Tassi'gnor to Bowman Products, Incorporated, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,500

13 Claims, (01. 217-19) This invention relates-to new and useful improvements in bottle crates, generally, and more particularly to milk bottle crates.

Heretofore, it'has been common practice in the manufacture of bottlecrates to providemetallic partitions therein, either in the form of rods or metal stampings, to separate thebottles from one another and thus prevent direct contact therebetween. To use metal for this purpose has been found objectionable for several reasons. First, the metal has a tendency,

to mar the walls of the bottles as a result of the latter contacting therewith, often to the extent that small scratches or marks are made in the surface of the glass, which often cannot be removed. These scratches accumulate dirt and other foreign matter and thus render the.

bottles very difficult to clean. Secondly, these metallic partitions are usually galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rusting. This pro.-

tecting coating or galvanizing often wears oif," whereupon the metal rusts. This rust is trans-.

mitted to the walls of the bottles in the form of a stain, which is usually very difiicultto remove. Further, when metallic partitions are used, the crates are noisy, particularly when the bottles are empty, and the crates are being transported ,on a truck or other transporting.

means over a rough street surface. Convention'- al' crates, such as above described, are also rather difficult to clean because of the 'longi tudinal and transverse partitions provided therein, which'usually extend from end wall to end wall, and side wall to side Wall, whereby a brush or other cleaning instrument cannot be passed freely from end to end or crosswise of the crate.

In the novel crate herein disclosed, all of" the crate is rendered practically noiseless, even. when filled with empty'bottles and transported crate;

on a truck-over a rough road or street.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a bottle crate in which substantially all of the objectionable features now commonly present in conventional crates, have been eliminated, which is very. simple and inexpensive in construction, and in which the walls of thebottles are cushioned to eliminate tion in the crate; 7

noise and bottle breakage, even though the crate is'subjected to treatment in transit, as is often the case'with devices of this character. Other objects of the invention reside in the particular construction of the bottle spacing. 5'- means or elements, which are constructed of resilient or yieldable material such, for example, as rubber, whereby they cannot mar or injure the surfaces of the walls of the bottles, and whereby the bottles are cushioned; in the novel 10 means providedfor supporting the bottle, spacing elements in the lower portion of the crate; in the novel construction of the upper portions of'said bottle spacing elements which cooperate to substantially fill the spaces between adjacent 15 bottles and thus provideicev ledges or shelves for supporting chipped or cracked ice, which isdee sirable when transporting-bottled milk in crates during warm weather; and, in. the simple and inexpensive construction of the spacing elements and the manner of securing them in position in the crate.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings andwill be pointed out inthe annexedclaimsp I In the accompanying drawings there has beendisclosed'a structure designed to carry out the various objects of 'the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as various changes may be made 'withinthe scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings: Figure l is a plan view showing a crate em-- ploying my invention; a

Figure 2 1s across-sectional viewon the line 22 of Figure 1; showing one method of securing the tubular bottle spacing elements in posi- Figure 3 is a perspective view' showing one of the tubular bottle spacing elements removed from its supporting means;

Figure 4 is a view showing another con struction in which the bottle spacing elements are supportedupon ametalplate which, in turn, 1 is secured in position between the walls of the Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the means for securing the tubular'eleme'nts tothe bottom plate; and e Figure 6 is a view showing still another meth- 0d of securing-the tubular bottle spacing elements to the bottom plate.

, as shown,

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated in Figure 1, for purposes of disclosure, a milk bottle crate comprising end walls 2 and side walls 3, preferably constructed of slats suitably secured together at the corners of the crate by suitable metallic corner irons 4, which is more or less common in structures of this. kind.

To support the bottles within the crate, a plurality of spaced rods are provided in the lower portion of the crate and are shown having. their terminals or end portions suitably secured to the lower slats 6 of the end walls 2 oh the: crate. The bottles 1, indicated in broken lines in Figure 2, may be supported: directly upon the rods 5.

Suitable transverse hangers or members, generally indicated by the numeral: 3, are disposed transversely of the crate and have apertures. therein for receiving the rods 5, as clearly showninFigure 2. The end portions; 9. of the cross members 8 are preferably shaped as shownin Figure 2, whereby they may be engaged with the upper: edges of? the:lower slats. M: of. the side walls 3 of the crate walls, to: thereby support the hangers or'nrembers & inthe position shown in; Figure 2. The outwardly bent flanges I25 of the end portions 9 are provided with suitable apertures l3 adapted to: receive pins. l4, received in suitable-sockets t5 provided in the upper edges of the lower slats ll of. the side walls 3*, as clearly shownatthe right hand sideof Figure 2. The pins I 4 are-.retainediin the sockets l5 by the adjacent. slats l.6- of the' side walls, as will readily be understood.

Animportant feature: of the invention resides in. the construction of the novel means provided in. the lower: portion of the crate for spacing apart the bottles supported therein, to therebyprevent them from directly? contacting: with one another. As shown,. in. Figures 2 and- 3, such means resides in the provision of" a: pluralityof. hollow elements; generally indicat'edby thenumeral IT. These elements are preferably tubula: in: cross-section,. and: are? made'from a yield able or resilient material such, for example;v as rubber In Figures 2 and 3;. each element. I1: is shown shaped with. downwardly extending legs l8 1 adapted to fit over' the-enlarged portions; [9 of.

the. cross members Each. enlarged? portion I19- is shown provided. with a raised cylindrical portion 2| forming a a seat for the body: ofthe=ele-- ment H to thereby prevent the lower portions of the walls-thereof from collapsing, when pressure is applied to the outer surfaces thereof, as will be'clearly'understood by referenceto' Figure 21 The dependinglegs P8 of the members l1: engage opposite sides of the enlarged portions IS and are secured thereto by' such means; as rivets or bolts 22..

A suitable cap, generally indicated by the. numeral 23 is providedat the upper end of each tubular element I11. These caps are shown in Figures 1 and 2; and'. have cylindrical portions 241 fitting. into the upper ends of the elements IT,

and are suitably securedto their respective elements by such means as vulcanizing, it being understood that. the. caps 23 are preferably made of hard rubber. Each cap 23- is preferably provided with a plurality of radial arms 25, shaped asshown in Figure l, and. adapted to extend outwardly into the spacesbetween the bottles, and cooperate=tor provide: ice ledges or shelves for supporting cracked or chipped ice between'the bottles. The walls 26 between the arms 25 may be arcuately formed, as shown in Figure 1, to thereby substantially fit the peripheries of the bottles.

In Figures 4 and 5, there is shown another construction in which the bottom of the crate consists of. a plate 21, shown bounded by a downwardly turned" flange 28 adapted to be seated against the lower slats 29 and 3| of the end. and side walls of the crate, respectively. These flanges may be secured to the bottom slats of. the crate by suitable means such as rivets, not

shown in the drawings.

' A plurality of raised cylindrical portions or bosses 32 are provided in the bottom plate 21, each adapted to receive a tubular element 33 of flexible material such as rubber. The tubular elements-33 may be secured to the raised portions or bosses 32 by such means as rivets 34.

In form shown in Figures 4 and 5, each tubularelement 33 is provided with a cap which is substantially circular to conform to the shape of th'e elements 33, as clearly illustrated' in. Figure 42' The flexible elements-3:5 amspaced apart as clearly illustrated in Figure" 4 to thereby provide spacers-for the bottles 1 indicated; by the dotted lines, whereby said bottles are independently formed and securedthereto by suitable means, not shown, such as electric spot welding or riveting". Each raised. portion or boss 31 is shown provided with a flange 38 adapted: to be seated-preferably against the bottom face of. the plate 21, as clearly illustrated. Suitahleapertures are, of course, provided. in the plate to receive the bosses 3-7, as shown.

In the form here shown, the flexible elements as are secured: to the'bottom plate 21 by means of a. bolt 4.|.,.having its upper end received in anaperture provided in the cap 42 and its lower end'received in an aperture provided in the raised portion or boss 31. The bolt has an enlarged head. 43. seated against the upper end of the cap 41 and is providedat its lower'end with a nut .fl", whereby the bolt may be tightened tosecurely clamp. the element- 39 and cap 42. tot-hebottom plate 21. When thus constructed, the raised. portions or bosses 31 need not necessarily be riveted or secured directly to the bottom plate 21, as it will readily be noted by reference to Figure 6, that when the nut 44 of the bolt 41 is tightened, a portion of the bottom plate 27 will beclamped' between the lower-end of the tubular element 39 and the flange 38, whereby said partsare securely clamped to the bottom plate.

The novel means herein disclosed for spacing apart the: bottles in the crate has been found very practical and desirable in. actual operation for the reason that it provides a milk crate which: may be roughly handled without noise and also, whereby" the bottles are not likely to become broken. Because of the spacing elements H, 33,. and 39. being. made from. a flexible mate'- rial such as rubber,: the outer surfaces of the bottles are. not marred or damaged", as is now a common occurrence when. using spacing. means or separators constructed entirely of metal. The

spaci'ng means is also very simple and inex- 7 pensive in construction, and because of each element I! being constructed independently of the other elements of the same crate, they may readily be removed for repairs, or another element substituted therefor, without disturbing the remaining elements.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the spacing means provided in the crate are in the form of individual elements or units which are disconnected from one another, whereby a brush may readily be passed between said elements for cleaning purposes, which is impossible in the usual form of spacing means now commonly provided in milk bottle crates, and the like.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bottle crate comprising side and end walls, a perforated bottom supported by said walls, and a plurality of flexible elements formed of yieldable material that is bendable in any direction secured to said bottom in spaced relation and extending upwardly into the crate and cooperating to space apart the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween.

2. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of Walls, means in the lower portion thereof for supporting the bottles, and a plurality of unconnected, flexible, elements formed of yieldable material that is bendable in any direction for spacing apart said bottles to prevent direct contact therebetwee 3. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, means in the lower portion thereof for supporting the bottles, and a grid structure for spacing apart said bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, said grid structure being constructed entirely of rubber.

l. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, means in the lower portion of said crate for supporting the bottles, a plurality of tubular flexible elements on said means for spacing apart said bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, and a head at the upper end of each of said elements having radial arms extending between the bottles and cooperating to provide ice ledges.

5. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, means in the lower portion of said crate for supporting the bottles comprising plu rality of cross members, and a plurality of flexible elements formed of yieldable material that is bendable in any direction secured to said cross members and spacing apart said bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween.

B. A bottle crate comprising plurality of walls, a plurality of cross members in the lower portion of the crate cooperating to provide supports for the bottles, and a plurality of tubular rubber elements secured to said cross members and spacing apart said bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, said elements being capable of returning to their normal shapes, when distorted or bent out of shape.

7. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, bottle supporting means in the lower portion or" the crate, and upright tubular flexible rubber elements secured to said bottle supporting means and spacing apart the bottles in the crate to prevent direct contact therebetween.

8. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, a series of rods in the lower portion of the crate upon which the bottles are supported, cross members engaged with. said rods, and a plurality of resilient tubular elements secured to said cross members and extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating to space apart the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween.

9. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, a series of rods in the lower portion of the crate upon which the bottles are supported, cross members engaged with said rods and secured to opposite walls of the crate, a plurality of resilient tubular elements secured to said cross members and extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating to space apart the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, and means on the upper portions of said tubular elements for supporting cracked ice between the bottles.

16. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, a series of rods in the lower portion of the crate having their ends suitably secured to the end walls thereof, a plurality of cross members engaged with said rods and arranged at substantially right angles thereto and having their ends suitably secured to the side walls of the crate, a plurality of resilient cylindrical elements secured to said cross members and cooperating to provide spacers for the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, and means for preventing said cylindrical elements from collapsing, when engaged by an obstruction.

11. A bottle crate comprising a plurality of walls, a series ofrods in the lower portion of the crate having their ends suitably'secured to the end walls thereof, a plurality of cross members engaged with said rods and arranged at substantially right. angles thereto and cooperating therewith to provide a bottom for the crate, a plurality of resilient hollow elements secured to said cross members and cooperating to provide spacers for the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween, and a plurality of radial arms at the upper ends of said elements projecting between the bottles and cooperating to provide ice-supporting shelves.

12. A bottle crate comprising side and end walls, a perforated metallic bottom supported by said walls and having raised portions integrally formed therein, and a plurality of flexible, hollow elements bendable in any direction fitting over said raised portions and extending upwardly into the crate and cooperating to space apart the bottles supported in the crate.

13. A bottle crate comprising side and end walls, a bottom secured to said walls and having a series of openings therein spaced equidistant apart, cup-shaped elements inserted in said openings and projecting above the upper surface of the bottom to provide, in effect, a series of cylindrical bosses, and a plurality of flexible rubber elements fitting over said bosses and suitably secured in position thereon and extending upwardly into the crate and cooperating to space apart the bottles to prevent direct contact therebetween.

' HENRY V. BOWMAN. 

